Nashville, Tennessee: A Visit to the Mecca of Honky Tonk in Photos

I flew into Nashville, Tennessee to attend a blogger conference, which is always a great excuse to visit a fine city and meet some of my online friends. It was the second time I’d been there and both times were for a conference held at the same hotel.

Navigating our vast hotel under a dome

If you’re going hold a conference in Nashville, the best place to have it is at the Gaylord Opryland Resort which is almost like staying at Disneyland. It’s an amazing maze of buildings, restaurants, stores, riverwalk, and conference center, all under a huge glass dome. It’s almost like a city within a city and, believe me, it’s easy to get lost. It also doesn’t matter what the weather is like because it’s always the same temperature under the dome. The only problem is that the air circulation system tends to dry out your skin, so bring plenty of moisturizer.

Downtown Nashville

Conferences always leave you with little time to explore before you have to go home but me and my new found friend Dee, took a taxi downtown to see what we could before our planes took off that afternoon. Nashville had been in the midst of a snowstorm the day I arrived but the day we left it was sunny and warm.

Elvis and Me were taken by Dee

We had brunch at The Rock Bottom Brewery and both of us decided to try shrimp and grits. Being from California I’d never had grits before and even though I was told grits were gritty, my meal was delightful. Creamed grits are the best and that’s what they served.

Shrimp and Grits at Rockbottom Brewery, Nashville, TN

Downtown Nashville

We strolled down Main Street of the Music City to see some of the sights and I took a bunch of pictures. You can’t say Nashville isn’t colorful. There were all sorts of fun characters hawking their wares, and playing music on the street, as well as honky-tonks, yummy places to eat and a bunch of stores selling cowboy boots.

We had to go into the famous Goo Goo shop to get a Goo Goo Cluster. It’s been a Nashville staple since 1912 and contains real milk chocolate, caramel, peanuts, and marshmallow nougat. If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll enjoy it. I don’t even want to know how many calories are in those buggers.

Have fun browsing my images below.

To view my photos of Nashville in full size, click on the images below. Please feel free to pin them on Pinterest and follow my boards here:

Tequila Cowboy

Nashville gal

Vintage Clothes

Sproket Rocket Party Bike

Hot Dog Stand

Goo Goo Shop

Ernest Tubb Record Shop

Cowboy Street singer

Broadway Boot Company

Boot Country

Laylas Hillbilly Music

Nash Vegas

Live Music

Cat Petting Station

Boots

Jack’s BBQ

Legends

Park Paradise Trailer Park

Robert’s Western World

Two Rivers Mansion

Just before we left we grabbed a cab and were fortunate enlist an enthusiastic driver who took us to Two Rivers Mansion and let us get out to take some snaps. It was built in 1859 (before the Civil War) and is a prime example of antebellum architecture.

Two Rivers Mansion

If you’re heading to Nashville and want an awesome taxi driver, call this guy. Hopefully, he’s still on the job.

Steve Parker – 615-578-3991

He’s incredible. I wish we’d found him before we hit downtown. Next time I’m staying longer.

It was so nice meeting you at the conference, Rebecca! For what it’s worth, I don’t think you were the oldest women among us – but it doesn’t matter – we all felt an ageless connection.
I’ve had the shrimp and grits (grits are just Southern polenta) at the Rock Bottom Brewery and you’re right; they’re delicious. I’m glad you enjoyed Nashville and I hope you’ll come back sometime.

Hi Alicia, Actually what I had meant was that I’m usually the oldest at other conferences and that at BAM everyone was in a similar age range. Maybe I better reword. Thanks also for the info about grits. It isn’t something we often see in Los Angeles and now that I know it’s like polenta it makes sense. I had a great time in Nashville and can’t wait to go back and spend more time there. There’s so much to see besides just downtown. Hope to see you again soon!
Rebecca

Hi Kymberly – I had a great time at your workout and didn’t mind the early start. Thanks for the feedback on my photos. I’m still practicing. Hope to get off auto mode some day! Can’t wait for next year.

Rebecca, I think we met but wish there was more time to chat with the 100 women at the conference. I enjoyed Nashville too. Sorry about your loss. I too became a widow at 50 – way too early – but it is great to connect with others who understand your loss. Here’s to meeting again at BAM 2016.

Hi Judy, I remember meeting you for just a short time and I love your blog. Yes, I think we needed at least 3 full days to meet everyone and get to know them. What a great group though. Sorry about your loss as well. It’s just part of life and we learn from it. Hope to see you again soon.

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